Trayvon Martin death: Slain black youth that galvanized the nation (SLIDESHOW)

SLIDESHOW - The murder of Florida teen Trayvon Martin is the most recent controversial instance of a black youth tragically killed in a case with racial undertones...

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

The murder of Florida teen Trayvon Martin is the most recent example of a black youth tragically killed in a case with unavoidable racial undertones. His story has roused the public’s interest and sparked debate around issues of violence, race and justice.

Martin, 17, was shot and killed in February by 28-year-old George Zimmerman, who claimed to be a part of the neighborhood watch group in a Florida gated community. The case is currently under investigation by federal and local authorities after a flurry of media attention called for Zimmerman’s arrest, who local police said was acting in self-defense — despite Martin being unarmed and the existence of telephone recordings of the late teen crying and pleading for help.

Follow Donovan X. Ramsey on Twitter at @idxr

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